Michael: I publish a weekly newsletter to my newsletter list to keep me on their mind. Whenever I have a good offer, I contact my customer list. I don?t want to keep bothering them unless I have an important announcement.

Terry: Quality versus quantity! How important is the promotion and sale of affiliate programs?

Michael: It?s very important! The majority of my income comes from affiliate programs. Even if you have your own products, affiliate programs are a great way to earn extra profits.

Terry: The returns from promoting affiliate programs are worth the effort. What strategy do you employ with the affiliate programs you promote?

Michael: I promote programs at different price levels but not to just make money. The program has to be a good, something I can talk about and of interest to my list. If affiliate programs are going to be your main business, develop a free report to get prospects on your email list. Next, promote the affiliate programs in your newsletter.

Terry: Sounds simple enough! Do you recruit affiliates to sell your products/services?

Michael: Most of my product sales come from affiliates. However, you can?t sit around and wait for affiliates to come to you. You must go out and actively recruit them. You want affiliates to have large email lists and credibility in your niche. Give these affiliates a free copy of your product and a large commission for each sale.

Terry: Results depend on successful recruiting. What do most Internet marketers do wrong in trying to build a successful business?

Michael: They forget the main purpose of Internet marketing! Find a hungry niche market and provide customers with good products. Some marketers get lost in the ?hype? of the Internet and forget basic economic principles.

Terry: You have very thoughtful insight. Moving along. How can you tell if an affiliate program is legitimate?

Michael: I always buy the product before joining the affiliate program. If it?s a good product it?ll generally be a good affiliate program. Be cautious of any programs that focus more on selling than on the product itself. Troubles lie ahead if you have to pay to be in a program but have no clue about the product!

Terry: Know the product before committing to a program. How should a newcomer determine what field to pursue in Internet marketing?

Michael: Research a potential niche market carefully. Go to the website GoodKeywords.com and see how many people search your topic area. Select a niche area with high traffic.

Terry: Excellent recommendation! In your judgment, what are the most effective things a newcomer should do to develop an affiliate strategy?

Michael: Pick a strong niche market and 3 good affiliate programs to promote. The individual affiliate needs to brand themselves (i.e., take on a unique identity) and not the affiliate program.

Terry: Therefore, branding is critical! What key things would you recommend to a new Internet marketer to achieve financial success?

Michael: Concentrate on building a list! Learn from the people who have already succeeded. There?s no shame in asking for help. Keep a cool head and have patience. Success won?t come overnight but it will happen. Don?t give up! You may be one failure away from success.

Terry: That is good positive encouragement for all marketers. Do you have any other comments you would like to add?

Michael: If you are a newbie, you have a long road ahead of you. However, the destination is worth the wait. Everything is a learning process. Remember the main objective is to solve someone?s frustration. There was a person out there banging his keyboard in anger and trying to figure out autoresponders. My ebook solved his problem. Find a frustration and solve it! You?ll be on your way to riches!

Terry: Michael, thank you very much for your valued inputs.

Copyright ? 2003 F. Terrence Markle ? All Rights Reserved

FREE 7-Day Ultimate Affiliate Marketing eCourse at http://www.QuikSystems.com/uam/FreeCourse.htm

F. Terrence Markle has worked for over 20 years with public and private companies. He has an MBA in finance and marketing. He has been involved with internet-related businesses for over 3 years. His primary focus today is marketing of affiliate programs.

terry@quiksystems.com